The English Premier League continues with round 35 match-ups this weekend. However, the league will also feature several contests during the mid-week as there are couple of games to be played as a make-up of the missed rounds. The first of them is set for this Tuesday (April 25th), between league rivals Chelsea and Southampton, who will battle it out at the Stamford Bridge as a makeup game for Round 34. Kick off starts at (20:45 CET/19:45 GMT). Things are heating up in the English soccer league, as we get set to draw the curtains, on what has been an fascinating season. We have prepared an exclusive game analysis in order to exploit some easy betting picks. Let’s take a closer look.
CHELSEA FC vs. SOUTHAMPTON
3-Way: 1: Chelsea FC -222; X: +390 Draw; Southampton FC +810
Spread -1: Chelsea FC -133; Southampton FC +129
Total +2.5: Over -109; Under +120
CHELSEA FC
The Chelsea FC host the travelling Saints this Tuesday, no doubt boosted by their imperious (4:2) victory over the fierce London rivals, and league contenders Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, thanks to which the Blues advanced to the final of the FA Cup, where they will face Arsenal in the ultimate showdown at Wembley Stadium. The tricky Eden Hazard and ace striker Diego Costa started the cup tie on the bench, as manager Conte reorganized the side, against a confident Spurs team, with optimistic title aspirations this season. However, it was the Belgian who emerged as the hero, to help cement the victory with a decisive goal, driving the ball low with emphatic fashion, to give Chelsea the lead advantage.
Conte’s confusing squad selection has baffled many, and rumors prior to the game, soon circulated over Contes priorities for this season. Resting key players ahead of the previous weekends tragic (2:0) loss to Manchester United, was surely a sign, that the Blues manager favored the league over the cup. In the end, the Blues romped home with the spoils of victory, and the brave coach soon quashed any doubts, collecting an excellent (4:2) result in a captivating cup match.
Chelsea is currently sitting pretty at the top of the table, four points clear of their local rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Nevertheless, the side has an inferior goal difference, managing just 38 goals, compared to Tottenham’s 46 this season.
The high flying side has been the team to beat all year, racking up an impressive 24 wins, out of 32 matches played overall in the English Premier League. The Blues home form has been exceptional this year, grabbing thirteen wins from 15 encounters, only dropping a minuscule six points all campaign. The unstoppable side has won five of their previous six homes, during which they dispatched the top rivals Arsenal (3:1) and fourth placed Manchester City (2:1).
Offensively, the club is currently ranked at the very top position, with a titanic 35 goals scored at home this season. This has been largely due to a rampant Diego Costa, who has found his shooting boots again, finding the net 0n seventeen separate occasions for the club.
Defensively, Chelsea’s invincible back four have only conceded 11 goals, from their 15 home games played, having mustered seven clean sheets at the impenetrable fortress Stamford Bridge, making the stadium a horrifying prospect for any visitor.
Eden Hazard and Diego Costa are predicted to start the Tuesday’s clash, after beginning their recent FA cup duel with Spurs on the bench, whilst Marcos Alonso, who has been struck with illness, and shot stopper Thibaut Courtois who picked up a thigh injury should feature, after the pair returned to training late last week. Cesc Fabregas looks set to support midfielder anchor Kante, with Azpilicueta, Nemanja Matic, and David Luiz all available to start against Southampton on Tuesday night. Gary Cahill was unable to attend the weekend’s classic semi-final clash, so it is doubtful that he will return to the squad in time for the fixture, whilst Pedro and Willian will contest the lone attacking spot, currently up for grabs in the Chelsea front-line.
SOUTHAMPTON FC
The Southampton currently occupies the 9th spot in the English Premier League, having reached relative safety, nine points clear of the 18th ranked Swansea City. The Saints are unlikely to replicate last year’s league success, in which they achieved Europa league qualification, along with league rivals Manchester United and West Ham. The situation is different this time around though, as Southampton must close an enormous 23 point gap to reach the Red Devils, who currently hold the 5th spot, in a bid to attain European football again next season.
Although the Saints lost their last league encounter, in a crushing home defeat to Guardiola’s Manchester city, (0:3) boss Claude Puel, will draw encouragement from Southampton’s recent away form, which has seen the club claim victory in three of their previous four away fixtures. The wins came over opposition West Brom (1:0), alongside rampant displays against Watford (4:3) and Sunderland (4:0). The loss coming at the hands of title contenders Tottenham Hotspur, in a closely contested 2:1 defeat.
Southampton have netted 37 times in attack overall in the English Premier League this season, and the stats are reassuring for the visitors going into Tuesday’s skirmish. Out of those 37, 20 have come from away appearances, which is the 9th best tally in the league, and three more than their home total this season, which currently lies at 17 in attack. On the other hand, in terms of goals scored, Southampton lie 16th in the league rankings, with a meagre 77. However, the majority of goals have again come as the visiting side, (42), compared to home goals accumulated over the course of the campaign (35).
Charlie Austin is Southampton’s most potent attacking threat at the minute, with a combined total of nine goals, averaging a strike ratio of 126 minutes per goal. 59% of the strikers 41 shots have been on target, and the goal poacher will be looking to add to his collection in Tuesday’s Tussle.
Trailing narrowly behind Austin, is midfield maestro, Nathan Redmond, who is enjoying a decent spell of late, managing to convert seven times, and assisting once.
Southampton welcome Oriol Romeu back after serving his suspension, however, goalkeeper Alex Mccarthy is absent, and Matt Target is amongst the list of casualties (Thigh Injury) and will miss tomorrow’s contest.
CHELSEA FC vs. SOUTHAMPTON FC PREDICTION
The Saints have earned four points in their last two trips to Stamford Bridge. However, the red and white boys haven’t managed to keep a clean sheet against Chelsea since December 2002, and this fact, coupled with their recent defensive woes, surely means that plenty of goals are on the cards, in this hotly anticipated English Premier League crunch-match.
On the other side, Chelsea is firing on all cylinders at the moment, having netted two goals or more in six of their previous seven league outings, which means we could well see a blockbuster, goals-galore extravaganza this Tuesday evening.
In the English Premier league, Conte’s Chelsea has won 11 of their previous 12 matches played at home, and this rich vein of form is unlikely to come to an end against Southampton, with the Blue’s so close to securing the premier league title. Expect a lot of goals on both sides of the pitch!!!
MY PICK: Over 2.5 goals (-109)
Additional Pick: Both teams to score YES (+110)
